Yreka Motel gets face lift

Wednesday

Sep 19, 2012 at 11:05 AMSep 19, 2012 at 11:16 AM

By Ami RidlingDaily News Staff Writer

YREKA – Construction crews and dump trucks have been coming and going from the Yreka Motel & Trailer Park as its new owners embark on a series of improvement projects to spruce up the living environment for residents.

Built in 1870, the Yreka Motel has a rich history and was the site of a popular RV park before the building and property became low-income housing with 48 dwelling units.

Jeff Rooney and Dave Brule purchased the Yreka Motel two months ago. They hired Scott Hellwig, of Southern California, to be their live-in manager and oversee the improvement projects.

"This is a work in progress," said Hellwig as he walked by a construction crew hauling rubbish to a dumpster. "It's going to be at least a year of work before we complete improvements to the rooms."

In addition to a complete revamping of the utility infrastructure, all the rooms are getting a fresh coat of paint. Work crews are putting in hardwood flooring and replacing outdated kitchen cabinets, counter tops and sinks. Old kitchen equipment is being replaced with new, energy-efficient stoves and refrigerators. Air conditioning units are also being updated. New toilets, sinks and showers are being installed in the bathrooms, as necessary.

The trailers are among the dwelling units being improved. However, Hellwig noted that six of the 21 trailers cannot not be salvaged. They are being demolished and removed.

The projects will be completed as residents move out and their rooms/trailers and the units become vacant. Residents are also given the option to move into an updated room – thus freeing up outmoded rooms for crews to begin work.

While the previous management did not require cleaning deposits, Hellwig said he hopes this new requirement will be an incentive for residents to take care of their rooms, and leave them clean when they move out.

"Our goal is to give residents a nice place to live and when they leave, we hope they will leave us something nice," said Hellwig.

He noted that when crews began work on some of the vacant units, he required them to wear respirators, heavy-duty gloves and protective gear because he feared for their health when cleaning up rubbish left behind by the previous tenants. One unit's kitchen was destroyed by a fire – another repair job for the owners and management.

In the motel, crews are currently replacing the ceiling of a room that recently fell in as a result of damage from a water leak. Plans are underway to paint the exterior of the historic structure. Hellwig noted that many structural repairs must precede the exterior painting project.

In the front of the motel, the planter boxes that Hellwig said looked like "cat litter boxes" now feature colorful flowers.

Hellwig stated that he is in the process of tackling the feral cat overpopulation problem on the property, and soon, the trees will be pruned, landscaping will be revamped and old vehicles on the property will be towed away.

"This is definitely an ongoing project," said Hellwig. "This place has a lot of history and it was a very prestigious building at one time."